The Deputy Commander of the Command and Control Center (CCC) at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Anees Sindi, has appointed the center's first female member, Dr. Tamara Tayeb, to serve as its Ebola director, in order to improve the organization’s efforts and responses relating to the disease. The move formalizes a role that Dr. Tayeb has been playing within the CCC for some time.

Sindi noted that while the overall risk to the Kingdom posed by Ebola remains low, it is important that the Kingdom’s health care system be alert and prepared for the possibility of infection and that the public, particularly those traveling abroad, are aware of the symptoms of the disease and what to do if they develop them.

“Preventing the spread of Ebola to the Kingdom is an important priority for our nation and our health care community,” Sindi said.

“It has a low-probability of occurring, but is a risk that carries a high potential impact. Tamara is, has been and will continue to serve as our advocate for best practices in the preparation, detection and response to the possibility of Ebola, and will serve as a liaison with our international partners to assure the safety of patients, health care workers and the public at large, ” he added.

Tayeb will coordinate and drive the work of all CCC platforms and external parties, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to develop and implement solutions that serve and protect the people of the Kingdom.

Tayeb has served in the Ministry of Health since 2012 as director of the National Tuberculosis Control Program. She received her medical training at the prestigious Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals in London, as well as in Ain Shams University Hospitals in Cairo, and University Hospital Aintree in Liverpool, England. She earned her M.B., B.CH. of Medicine at Misr University for Science and Technology, in addition to an M.Sc. in Global Health and Development from University College London.